Measures to prevent overtaking on the A365 Bath Road are being installed by Wiltshire Council following safety concerns about the risk of a serious collision.
Two raised traffic islands will be installed on the road, close to Melksham Oak Community School and to the east of the Hornchurch Road junction.
This follows residents’ complaints that drivers are using the hatched ghost island areas to pass turning traffic and driving onto the wrong side of the road.
To monitor the incidents and the need for safety measures, Wiltshire Council installed a covert camera last year, which recorded 79 overtaking manoeuvres at this location over a seven-day period.
Chair of Bowerhill Residents’ Action Group (BRAG) Mark Blackham said, “The issue is most prevalent when travelling east from Melksham towards Devizes. As drivers slow down to turn right into Hornchurch Road, some motorists, assuming they have already left the village, accelerate and attempt to overtake using the hatched area. When a driver begins to manoeuvre into the right-turn lane, these overtaking motorists often double-down, forcing themselves onto the wrong side of the road and into oncoming traffic.
“I first raised this with Melksham Without Parish Council following a personal incident in which a vehicle overtaking me, as I turned right, narrowly avoided hitting a car turning left out of Hornchurch Road. As this behaviour has continued and is not an isolated case, I have pressed Wiltshire Council via Melksham Without Parish Council over several years, both individually and as Chair of BRAG, to take action.”
The scheme, which has been agreed through the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group, is planned for delivery this summer.
Mark said he welcomed Wiltshire Council’s plan to install two traffic islands. He said, “BRAG extends its thanks to Teresa Strange, Melksham Without Parish Council Clerk, and Wiltshire Council Councillor Nick Holder for their continued support in resolving this important road safety issue.”
Pictured: Mark Blackham (centre) with Cllr Nick Holder (right) and a representative from Wiltshire Council.
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